Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 652,883. Patented July 3, I900. B. F. BOWLING ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 17, 1599.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 652,883. Paiented July 3, I900.

B. F. BOWLING. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. (Application filed. Apr. 17, 1899.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

f ra g1. .Aflo.. Be-TZFBOWW No. 652,883. Patented July 3, I900.

' B. F. sowuma.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 17, 1899.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W iil vzsses cu. PHOTD-LWNQ, WASHINGTON o c FEIERS Trice.

BER-T F. BOWLING, OF BURR OAK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN S. BOWLING, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 652,883, dated July 3, 1900 pplication filed April 17, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, BERT F. BOWLING, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Burr Oak, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-GasApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for generating acetylene gas, and one of the essen tial features is the provision of means by which the movable element of the generator is locked and sealed in place to overcome the escape of gas therefrom,'such locking device being actively associatedwith valved venting appliances to automatically cut off comm unication between the generator and gasometer and to open a passage" for the outlet of gas from the generator previous to removal of the coverforrecharging the carbid-container,thus preventing gas from escapinginto the room.

My improvements further contemplate the employment of means to actuate either'of theseries of generators from a single trip device which controls the admission of Water tothe generators successively, thus adapting the apparatus for service in a mannerto bring a second generator into use automatically after the exhaustion of carbid in the first generator, thereby providing for the continued service of the apparatus during the period of recharging the exhausted generator.

The invention also contemplates means for discharging water due to condensation of aqueous vapors in the gas, means for venting the gasometer automatically on the accumulation of surplus gas therein, and to generally simplify and improve the construction of the apparatus in order to promote the efficiency thereof. I

With these ends in View the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of; parts,which willbe hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed. Y To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which-- I, g

Figure 1 is a side elevation-of a gas-generthe arrangement of the piping.

caused to engage with the'notched ating apparatus constructed in accordance Serial No. 713,433. (No model.)

with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken at one side of one generator and through the gasometer, the plane of section being indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking device and a part of the vent contrivances. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the trip devices. Fig. 7 is a side view illustratingthe relation of the water-inlet valves to the trip-rod on the gasbell and showing means for positively closing the water-valve. Fig. 8 is an end view of the devices shown by Fig. 7.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The tank 10 of the gasometer is constructed to receive the fioatable gas-bell 11, and these elements may be of any suitable or approved construction in the art. In my apparatus I employ a series of generators, two of which are indicated by the numerals 12 13. Each generator is provided with an interior sealcha'mber 13', which is adapted to receive the shell on the removable cover 14:,whereby the cover is sealed within the generator to minimize the escape of gas therefrom. The tank of the generator is provided on opposite sides with lockingrbrackets 15 16, which are fixed firmly to said generator-tank to extend above the cover 14, and said brackets are provided in their extended edges with notches 17, which are arranged to face in opposite directions. The locking-bar 18 is pivoted centrally on the generator-cover, as at 19, and the ends of said locking-bar are prolonged or extended beyond the cover in order tozfit within the notches 17 of the locking-brackets. By turning the locking-bar 1 8on its pivot 19 "the ends thereof are thus fastening-the cover 14- immov'a sition Within the seal-chamber of th gener ator; but a reverse'adjustment of this looking-bar disengages its ends'from the notched brackets, thus permitting the cover 1* to be lifted or withdrawn from the generator.

Each generator is provided with an interior carbid container or receptacle, andwater in ickets,

IOO

regulated volumes is admitted to each generator from an elevated tank 21 or any other appropriate source of water-supply. The water is conveyed to said generator through a trap-shaped inlet-pipe 22, one end of which is connected to the tank 21, and the other end is extended into the generator to discharge the water over or to a sprayer, distributer, or any other device known to the art. The water-supply pipe 22 is closed normally by means of a valve 23. This valve is equipped with a lever 24, having its long arm provided with a weight 25, that serves to hold the valve normally in its closed position, and thereby arrest the flow of water from the source of supply to the generator.

The generators 12 13 are arranged adjacent to each other, and between the levers of the water-valves 23 of the generators is adapted to operate a trip-rod which is movable with the floatable gas-bell. The trip-rod forming apart of my invention is made in two sections, (indicated at 26 27.) The upper section 26 is angular for rigid attachment to the head of the gas-bell, and it is provided with a vertical tubular length. The other section 27 of the trip-rod is a solid rod or bar of metal, which is slidably fitted within the tubular length of the uppersection 26, and said lower section 27 is adj ustably clamped to the upper section 26 by a set-screw 28, that is mounted in the section 26 and adapted to bind against the section 27. The lower end of the trip-rod section 27 terminates in an angular foot, which is provided with a vertically-disposed trip-plate 29. An adjustable arm 30 is slidably fitted on the trip-rod section 27 at a point between the arm of the plate 29 and the lower end of the section 26 of the trip-rod. Said adjustable arm 30 is provided with a vertically-disposed plate 31- and also with a binding-screw 32, which is adapted to clamp the arm firmly in its adj usted position of the section 27 of the triprod. The arm 30 is clamped on the trip-rod todispose its trip-plate 31 on the opposite slde of the rod from the fixed plate 29, and the arm and plate are adjustable vertically on the section 27 of the rod independently of any adjustment of the section 27 with relation to the tubular section 26 of said trip-rod. In assembling or adjusting the trip-rod with relation to the generators its section 27 is arranged for the plate 29 to operate against the valve-lever 23 to one of the generators, while the otherplate 31 is supported in an elevated position above the valve-lever of the other generate In the rise and fall of the floatable bdw trip-rod travels therewith, and on the (1 cent of the bell the lower trip-plate 29 is operatively presented to the valve-lever of the generator, which for the time being is inservice, so that the wateris supplied atintervals to the active generator. On the exhaustion of, the carbid in the active generator the bell is permitted to travel to a position where the plate 29 operates the valve to the 47 of the apparatus.

exhausted generator to cut 06 the flow of water thereto, and the trip-plate 31 on the arm 30 is brought into active relation to the valvelever of the other unused generator, thus au-. tomatically bringing into service the second generator. It is now necessary to recharge the first or exhausted generator, and thisis eltected by adjusting the section 27 of the trip-rod in position for its trip-plate 29 to be free from engagement with the valve-lever to said :exhausted generator; but at the same time the trip-plate 31 on the adjustable arm should be moved to a position where it will properly engage with the valve-lever to the active generator.

The gas from the generators is delivered to the pipes 33 34, which are shown as extending through the bottoms of said generators, although this is not essential, and each gaspipe 33 or 34 is provided atits lower end with a three-way valve 35, that is adapted to be operated automatically on the removal of the cover 14 for cutting oif communication from the generator to the gasometer and opening a vent from the gasometer for the discharge of the gas contained therein into an off-bearing vent-pipe, as will presently-appear.

36 designates a horizontal gas-pipe which is provided at its ends with branches 37, that are coupled to the shells of the automatic three-way valves 35 for the two generators, and to this horizontal gas-pipe 36 is united a depending gas-pipe 38, the lowerend of which is furnished with a T-coupling 39. This T- coupling has a drip-tube 40 coupled thereto' and extended into a drip-trap 41, and from the T-coupling 39 extends the gas-pipe 42, which passes through the seal in the gasometer-tank and delivers the gas to the floatable bell 11.

The gas is conveyed from the gasometer to the service or house pipes through an outletpipe 43, the protruding end of which is furnished with a T-coupling 43, and from this T-coupling depends the drip-pipe-44, which extends into the drip-trap 41 for discharging the water of condensation which may accumulate in the outlet-pipe 43 or the service-pipe From the T-coupling 43 on the outlet pipe extends a vertical branch 45, which is connected to a horizontal branch 46, which branches are disposed adjacent to the tank of the gasometer and are condensation in said pipes is discharged into the trap 41 by the pipe 40. The gas passes from the gasometer to the service-pipe through the pipes 43, 45, and 46, and water 'of condensation therein is delivered to the trap through the drip-pipe 44.

As heretofore indicated, the three way valve in the gas-pipe is actuated automatically on the opening of the generator, and the preferred embodiment of means by which said valve is controlled consists in the employment of a valve-rod 48. This rod is slidably confined in a vertical position with'relation to the generator by means of guides 52, which are attached to the tank or shell of said generator. The lower end of the valverod is pivoted at 49 to the short arm of the valve-lever 50, said lever being attached to the valve 35 and provided on its long arm with a weight 51, which tends to normallyhold the valve 35 in its closed position. The vertically-slid'able valve-rod 48 is provided with a coiled spring 53, one end of which is seated against one of the guides 52, and the other end of said spring is fastened to the rod in a manner to assist the weighted valve-lever 50 in impelling the rod 48 in an upward direction. This rod has its upper end provided or formed with an enlarged head 54, in which is formed a notch 55. The valve-rod is presented by its guides in a position for its notched head to engage with one end of the bar 18, which locks the generator-cover in its lowered position, and said notched head of the valve-rod is arranged alongside one of the bracketplates 15 in order to move in an upward direction above said bracket-plate on the disengagement of the locking-bar therefrom; The'ValVe-rod is designed normally to have its notched head engage with the locking-bar 18, and said bar is thereby depressed against the tension of its coiled spring to move the lever 50 to a position where the valve 35 is opened to permit the gas to pass from the pipe 33 or 34 into the branch pipe 37 and thence to the gasometer. Previous to opening the generator for recharging the latter it is necessary to turn the locking-bar 18 on its pivot, and thereby disengage its ends from the brackets 15 16 and the'head 54 of the valverod 48. This adjustment of the parts releases the rod 48 from restraint, and the spring 53 and weighted valve-lever 50 at once impel the rod in an upward direction, thereby closing the valve 35 to shut off the passage of gas from the generator to the gasometer and at the same time open a vent-passage from the'generator into a vent pipe 58, presently described.

To contribute to the security of the fasten- "ing for the cover 14 on the generator, I may provide the head 54 of the gas-valve rod with a transverse aperture 56;, adapted to coincide with a similar aperturein the bracket 15, and

these alined apertures may receive the shackle of a padlock 57, although this locking expedient is not essential.

The vent-pipe 58 is arranged in a horizonvent-pipe is'provided with branches 59, which are'cou'pled to the shells of the three-Way valves 35. on the opposite side of the gasometer from the gas-service pipe 47 and this vertical ventpipe 60 is united to the horizontal vent-pipe 58 bya branch pipe 61.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the pipes 47 60 are disposed on opposite sides of the gasometer and that they extend above the tank thereof, and on the extended parts of said pipes 47 60 are slidably fitted the guides 73, which are fastened tothe floatable bell 11 and are adapted to maintain said bell in proper position with reference to the tank.

62 designates a cross-pipe which is united by suitable T-couplings to the service-pipe 47 and the vent-pipe 60, and this cross-pipe lies in a horizontal position above the upward limit of travel of the floatable bell.

provided with an arm or lever 64, having a weight 65, that normally holds the vent-valve in a closed position. The valve-lever lies in the path of a fork 67, which is fixed to the head of the floatable bell 11, and in this fork is journaled a roller 68, that is adapted to ride against the valve-lever 65 when the floatable bell is lifted by excessive accumulation of gas therein, there by opening the vent-valve 63 and permitting the gas to pass through the pipes 42, 45, 46, 47, and 62 into the ventpipe 60.

It will be understood that the communication between the vent-pipe and the generator,

' and open the vent-passage to the pipes 58, 59,

and 60. The gas contained in the generator -is thus free to escape through the vent-pipe 60 without coming into the room or apartment in which the apparatus is located, and the cover 14 may then be withdrawn from the generator to obtain access to the carbidcontainer therein. This container may be cleansed of the spent carbid residue and-recharged with a fresh active supply of carbid, after which the container should be replaced within the generator. The cover of the generator is then adjusted in position and the locking-bar-18 turned on its pivot forits ends to engage with the locking-bracketsand the notched head of the valve-rod 48. Said'valverod is thus held in its depressed position, and it turns the lever of the valve 35 to a position to cutoff communication between the generator and the vent-pipe and again establish communication from the generator to the gasometer. The water of condensation which may accumulate in the vent-pipes is discharged by means of a drip-pipe69, which is coupled to the horizontal vent-pipe 58 and j The vertical vent-pipe is disposed A Ventvalve 63 is united to this cross-pipe, and it is.

extends to the drip-trap41','and it will thus be seen that this drip-trap is common to the vent-pipes, the pipes leading from the generator t the gasometer, and the pipes which convey the gas from the gasometer to the service-pipe 47.

Under normal conditions in the service of the generator the water-valve 23 thereof is closed by the weighted lever 24:; but it sometimes occurs that the inlet-valve will not close quickly and easily owing to the valve sticking by accumulations of mud in the seat or from othercauses. I overcome this objection by the employment of an arm '70, which is fastened to the plu'g'of the water-valve 24 and is disposed in operative relation to the I trip 27 on the floatable bell, said arm 70 of the valve acting reversely tothe valve-lever 24. As shown by Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings,eachof the water-inlet valves 23 is provided, in addition to the weighted valve-le ver 24, with a valve-closing arm and this armhasitsinner end bent or ofiset to provide the angular shank 71, said shank ter-' minating in an enlarged end piece 72, which is adapted to be fastened securely to the turning-plug of said water-inlet valve. The arm 70 is disposed in a different radial position to the lever-'24: of saidwater-inlet valve, and

the oifsetshankof said valve-arm disposes the arm out of the path of the trip-plate, which is carried by the trip-rod of the movable bell. The valve-arm is thus arranged in a manner not to interfere with the tripplate in its action on the weighted lever of the water-valve, and the free end of said valve-arn '70 is arranged in the space between the trip-rod 27 and the trip-plate 29 or 31, whereby the end of the valve-arm is adapted to be actuated by the angular foot on the trip-rod or the adjustable collar30. The tripplate on the rod 27 is disposed in a position to act on the free end of the weighted valvelever, and in this operation of the parts the Valve-arm 70 is free to turn with the plug or valve 23 without affecting the operation of the trip-rod or the plate carried thereby; but when the trip-rod is raised by the gas-bell the foot of said rod or the collar 30 acts against the valve-arm to lift the latter and insure the proper and positive turning of the valveplug in order to close the valve 23, whereby any tendency of the valve to remain open by sticking of the plug is effectually overcome.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this inventiou.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a floatable bell and generators, of water-pipes arranged to discharge individually into said generators and having valves, the said pipes being adjaceutly arranged and the valves therein at the same vertical elevation, operating projections connected to the said valves and having weights to normally hold the valves closed, and a single trip device connected to and movable with the bell and composed of an upper tubular length and a lower rod adjustable longitudinally in relation to said length,

the said rod having reversely-positioned normally-rigid trip projections at di'lferent elcvations, the lower trip projection being stationary on and adjustable with the rod and I I the upperone vertically adjustable independ-- ent'of the adjustment'of the rod, whereby said projections maybe rendered alternately inactive, the trip rod and projections being unconnected to and movable between the planes of the projections of. the valves to operate the latter to control the admission of water to the valves successively, the said,

'- the valves, and a single trip device rigidly connected to and movable with the bell between the said projections and having reversely-positioned normally-rigid projections at different elevations unconnected to and adapted to bearagainst the said automatically-operating valve projections to open the valves and control the admission of water to the generators successively, the said projections on the trip device having upper contacting edges or terminations to loosely bear against the valve projections and independently adjustable to render them alternately inactive.

3. The combination with a generator, and a cover-lockin g device therefor, of a gas-pipe, a three-way valve in said gas-pipe and having communication under abnormal conditions, with a vent, means for normally holding the valve in a position to establish a gaspassage to a gasometer, and an automatic freely-slidable connection between the valve and the cover-locking device operable on the manipulation of said locking device to release the cover, to permit the valve-actuating device to instantaneously open communication from the generator to the vent.

4:. The combination with a generator, a cover-locking device therefor, a gas-pipe, and a three-way valve located, in said pipe and having communication under abnormal conditions with a vent, of means for normally holding the valve in a position for gas to pass to a gasometer,and a spring-actuated rod connected to the valve-actuating means and having interlocking connection with the coverlocking devices to be released from restraint thereby on removal of the cover,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a generator, a

cover-locking device therefor, a gas-pipe, and a three-way valve in said pipe and having communication under abnormal conditions with a vent, of a weighted lever connected to said valve, and a spring-lifted rod pivoted to the valve-lever and having interlocking engagement with the cover-locking device, for

the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination witha generator, a gaspipe, and a three-way valve in said pipe and having communication under abnormal conditions with a vent, of a locking-bar pivoted to the generator-cover, brackets with which the locking-bar engages when adjusted to an operative position, a rod having adjustable interlocking engagement with said lockingbar, and valve-actuating means having operative connections with said rod, substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination with a generator havinga removable cover, of a gas-pipe leading therefrom, a vent-pipe, a three-way valve connected to said gas-pipe and the vent-pipe and normally held in a position to establish communication from the generator to said gas-pipe, a locking-rod mounted on the generator-cover and engaging with keepers on the generator-shell, a valve-rod having a forked head to engage with the locking-rod, and means connected with said valve-rod to normally hold its head in engagement with the locking-rod and to adjust the valve to a position to cut off communication between the generator and the vent-pipe, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination with a gasometer, and a series of generators, of a drip-trap, gas-pipes leading from the generators to the gasometer and havice-pipe, an outlet-pipe from the generator to the service-pipe and also connected with the drip-trap, a vent-pipe having a branch connection to the drip-trap, three-way valves communicating with the gas-pipe and the vent-pipe, means for normally holding said valves in position to out off communication from the generators to the vent-pipe, and a vent-valve in communication with the outlet and vent pipes and disposed in the path of the gasometer-bell, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a floatable bell, generators, and water-pipes arranged to discharge individnally into said generators, of a single trip-rod attached to the belland including a lower longitudinallyadjustable member provided with a lower shoulder projecting outwardly at one side only and having an upstanding trip-plate, and an adjustable collar clamped to said member above the shoulder and carrying a trip-plate located opposite to the position of the plate fixed to the 4o ing communication with the drip-trap, a serv- 

